Lab Report “How-to…” Sheet  

Including:  The experimental question, the hypothesis, materials list, procedures.

 

Question.                   General guidelines:

*      You need to think up the questions yourself. 

*      Two good ways to think up questions include:

ü      Think about things you like to do, or topics you are curious about.

ü      Think of tools that we use to measure with in science and how you could use them to measure something you are wondering about.

 

All of the following guidelines must be answered “yes” before continuing:

  • Is it a testable question?  (Is there a possible experiment that I could set up to test the question?)
  • Can I measure something?  (What instrument would I use to measure the outcome?)
  • Is it safe?

  • Is the answer unknown to me?

  • I am not experimenting on myself.
  • I am not testing anyone else without permission.

 

                        Writing the question: 

            You can write the question in this form:  What will happen __(to something measurable)______ when ___(we do this)_______?  For example – What will happen to the speed of a Hot Wheels car when I add mass (weight) to the car before rolling it down a ramp as compared to the speed of the Hot Wheels car without the extra mass?

-OR-

             You can write the question in this form:  How does changing (the manipulated variable) affect (the responding variable)? 

                          Variables:

In our sample question, we are assuming that two things will change in the experiment:  the mass of the car, because we add mass (weight) to it, and then the speed of the car, because of the effect of the added mass.  Since these two parts of the experiment may change, they are both said to be variables.     

                          Two types of variables:

            1.  The variable that the experimenter changes, is called the manipulated variable.  We manipulate the mass of the car.  The mass is the manipulated variable.

            2.  The part of the experiment that changes as a result of the manipulated variable is called the responding variable.  The speed of the car may change because of the change in mass.  The speed is “responding” to the change in mass.  The speed is the responding variable.

            Another name for manipulated  variable is “independent variable.”

            Another name for responding  variable is “dependent variable.”

When you write your experimental question, always include a manipulated variable and a responding variable. 

                               Use a pencil and write an experimental question on the lines below:

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Hypothesis:  Predict what the outcome of the experiment will be by answering the experimental question.

 

Use this format:  If   (tell what you will do)__________ , then     (tell what you think will happen)___  because     (tell why you think this will happen).

 

In the first blank, include the manipulated variable and what you will do to it.

                 In the second blank, include the responding variable and predict how it will change

 

 

 

Materials list:  Write a list of the specific materials and equipment used in your experiment. 

Ø      Include details:  how much, how many, how big, what brand (if it matters)

Ø      Use metric system for measurements

Ø      Draw a picture of the experiment set-up

 

 

Procedures

 

  • Write a step-by-step explanation of what to do in your experiment to test the experimental question and hypothesis.
  • One step must say how many times to repeat the experiment (trials) to figure out an average (must be at least three).
  • Tell how you will record your results (Show tables and graphs).
  • The final step is:  Put everything away, clean up and wash your hands.
  • Do not use the pronoun "I" or "you" in your procedures

 

 

Results

Use a graph or table and drawings to clearly show numerical data (measurements).

Write a summary of your results in paragraph form.

 

Conclusion

An organized paragraph that states what you’ve learned from the experiment

·        restates the hypothesis in the first sentence

·        states as briefly as possible what the results showed.  Refer to your data to support your reasoning.  State why you think the experiment turned out the way it did.

·        state whether the hypothesis was, or was not, supported (Note: do not use the word “proved” in your conclusions.)

 

Offers an explanation of why your results were found, citing information from research, if any.

 

Discuss possible sources of error: A section that gives a brief discussion of anything that went wrong or that might have made your results inaccurate or doubtful.

·        Does NOT include anything that you do not think actually might have affected your data

·        A unsupported hypothesis is NOT an error

 

 

Future Investigation

Discuss a plan for a new experiment that will extend your understanding of the results of your first experiment.  Change your variables to check your findings.  Discuss how you think a new experiment might verify the findings in your first experiment.